Shawl-strap



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. BROOKE.

SHAWL STRAP.

Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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SHAWL STRAP.

Patented Nov. 18,1884.

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Nirn States Patent trace.

THOMAS BROOKE, OF DES MOINES, IOWVA.

SHAWL-STRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,052, dated November 18, 1884.

Application filed February 28, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, THOMAS BROOKE, of Des Molnes, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a Shawl-Strap and Firepe, of which the following is a specification.

- My obj ect is to prevent persons from neglecting to provide themselves with means for escaping from a burning building'when Stairways and ladders are unavailable; and I contemplate accomplishing the desired result by producing and offering a cheap, simple, ornamental, strong, and durable device that can be used for the common purposes of a shawl-strap and also readily applied and operated by any person of ordinary intelligence to lower persons and property from elevated positions in buildings with perfect safety when a building is on the and ordinary means of escape therefrom out off, or whenever desired.

Heretofore metal frames adapted for shawlstrap handles and metal frames or friction slides and bars adapted to be used in combination with a belt and rope as a fireescape have been made and separately used for such distinct purposes. I

My invention consists in the construction, combination, and operation of a simple metal frame with straps or belts and a rope, as hereinafter fully set forth, for universal use as a shawl-strap, and for use in an emergency as a fire-escape. I

Figure 1 of my accompanying drawings is a plan view showing the form of my complete metal frame. Fig. 2 is a half-section of the same frame in which the handle is left off and eyes formed in the end for attaching a handle or shoulder-strap. Fig. 3 represents my frame suspended in an elevated horizontal position andinsuch a manner that numbers of persons can be successively lowered thereby from a burning building. Fig. 4represents my device in use as a shawl-strap adapted to be carried in the hand. Fig. 5 shows the modified form represented by Fig. 3 in practical use as a shawl-strap. Fig. 6 shows my device attached to a window-frame in such a manner that it can be readily reversed without detaching it to successivelylower numbers of persons from a burning building.

Jointly considered,these views clearly illustrate the construction, operation, and utility of my complete invention.

A is a straight round friction-bar, that may vary in size and weight, as desired; It has eyes or rings B formed on its ends in' such a manner that a rope can be passed through one of the rings, coiled around the bar A,and then extended through the other ring in the mannor that friction-bars have heretofore been made and used in fire-escapes. 4

O is a straight bar, that has curved ends D, formed integral with the ring B in such a manner that the curved ends will be concentric with the rings, and the straight and'central portion parallel with the straight bar A. By thus extending the curved ends of the bar 0 partially around the rings B, in place of connecting them with the inner portion of the rings, as shown in the United States Letters Patent No. 292,981, issued to me February 5, 1884, the complete device can be readily attached, as shown in Fig. 6, to be used for lowering numbers ofpersons successively,without detaching it, by simply reversing its position relative to a screw-eye and snap-hook, or other suitable device with which it is suspended. As one person is attached to the end of the rope, by means of a belt or loop, and descends, the rope that extends through rings B and around the friction-bar A will move downward in a straight line and bring its opposite end to or near the suspended escape device. By then simply bringing the lower curved end, D, to the top the complete friction-slide A B O D is reversed relative to the rope and also relative to the snaphook or other device with which it is connected and suspended. A second person can then descend, and in so doing draw the rope downward and reverse its ends relative to the suspended slide; and thus any number of persons may be successively lowered by reversing the ends of the rope relative to the slide in descending, and reversing the suspended slide relative to its fastening.

By fixing the metal frame in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, the free ends of the rope will be reversed relative to the frictionbar A every time a person descends on the rope-that is, as one end descends to the ground with a person attached by means of a belt ICO and rings and snap-hool the other end as (end; and will he in readinessforanother person to be attached and lowered.

F F represent slots orloops formed integral with the ring B and the curved ends of the bar and handle G, for the reception of straps or belts G, that are adapted to be fastened around a person to connect the person with the slide and rope, as contemplated in their joint use as a fire-escape, and also adapted to fasten around a shawl or other articles, as contemplated in the use of shawl-straps of common form. v

H H (shown in Figs. 2 and 3) are eyes formed at the ends of the bar 0, or the sides of the rings B, for the purpose of attaching a shoulder-strap, J, as shown in Fig. 5.

By fastening one end of the rope extended through the rings B and around the bar A to a window-frame or other immovable objectin an elevated position one orboth of the straps or belts in the slots F may be fixed around a person and the person and friction-slide then descend together on the rope.

The bar or handle 0 may be covered with leather, and the complete metal frame finished in any style of art desired, so as to make it an ornamental handle and frame for a shawl or bundle carrier.

I claim as my. invention- 1. As an article of manufacture, a metal frame, A B C D, having slots or loops F, for the purposes stated.

2. The combination of the metal frame AB C D, having slots or loops F, and the strap or belts G, to operate in the manner set forth, for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of a metal frame, A B O D, having slot-s orloopsF and eyes H,adapted to receive a rope two straps, G, and a strap, J, for the purposes specified.

THOMAS BROOKE.

Vitnesses:

THOMAS G. ()RWIG, M. A. ANDERSON. 

